Seat



-June 10, '1941. u C, D, MILLER. ETAL '2,244,956

SEAT

Filed DBC. 21, 1958 Patented June 10, 1941 Calvin D. Miller andoG ilbert P. Ickes, Elyria, hio

Application December 21, 193s, serial No. 246.932

i 3'Claims.

Our invention is an improvement in seats and relates more particularly to saddles or bicycle seats.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a seat molded of sponge rubber or similar material in which is embedded one or more metal plates in` spaced relation to provide a high degree of comfortA and at the same time insure rigidity in the seat.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a molded rubber seat having a reinforcing plate embedded therein and extending longitudinally thereof and having a supporting plate near its under surface and spaced from the reinforcing plate.

A further object of the invention consists in a seat of soft rubber or sponge rubber provided with a longitudinal reinforcement embedded therein to maintain the general shape of the seat, and a second rigid member carried at the base of the seat to provide a means for rattachment of the seat to a support or post, the rubber material between said rigid members forming a cushion for the load carried by the seat.

A still further object is to produce a device of the class described which is simple of construction and extremely durable in use and which is inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of two embodiments thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a seat or saddle embodying our invention, the same being shown partly in section;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same, broken away as indicated to more clearly illustrate the reinforcing plate embedded in the seat;

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a view, partly in section, of a modification of our invention,

Heretofore, it has been the common practice to make bicycle seats or saddles in the form of a more or less rigid body supported on a seat post or the like, by means of coiled springs and to thereby rely chiefly upon such springs for riding comfort. We are also aware of seats or saddles supported directly-upon a post or upright, the

resiliency of the vseat being provided in a flexible' plate having directconnection with the post, while the supporting surface of the seat may be composed of rubber or leather or other similar substance to give a very 4limited cushioning effect.

In carrying out our invention we provide a seat with a main body molded of sponge rubber or the like, to the desired size and form,` and embed therein one or more spaced rigid members for purposes which will hereinafter more fully appear. In Figures l to 4 inclusive We have illustrated the preferred embodiment which may be described as follows:

.The body portion of the seat is composed of vulcanizable sponge rubber I which may be molded to the desired form and shape in suitable molds provided for the purpose. l

The form -of the seat or saddle includes the forwardportion or pommel 2, which gradually extends rearwardly to form the cantel portion 3. The upper supporting surface is concaved in the usual fashion for comfort of the rider. `The body of the ,seat extends downwardly on all sides to form a peripheral flange 4.

In order to impart the desired rigidityv to the seat without destroying the high degree of resiliency of the rubber, we have provided a pair of spaced metal plates 5 and I2 which are embedded in the body I during the molding operation.

The plate 5 is shaped to the general contour of the seat and is embedded in the body sufficiently below the top surface thereof to support a cushion of rubber as at 1. It is to be noted that the plate 5 is attached to nothing but the rubber of the body I and therefore may be said to be capable of floating in the body when the body is placed under load in use.

This plate is preferably perforated as at 8 to receive the portions 9 of the rubber body to thereby anchor the plate in the selected position. It is also desirable to curve the forward and rear walls of the plate downwardly as at I0 and II to help maintain the seat shape under compression and to further assist in properly distributing the compression of therubber below the plate when the seat is under load.

We have also provided a second or base plate I2, which is embedded in the body I near the lower portion thereof. To this plate may be attached any desirable clamping means to adjustably secure the seat to the post I3.

In the drawing we have illustrated a ball and socket connection for this purpose, although any suitable means may be employed. In the form tween the plates 5 and I2 serves to cushion the fl full load which is supported by the base plate I2.

Under load, therefore, there may be relative movement between the plates'5 andqI2 'due` togg compression or expansion of the rubber mate-v rial located between these plates., Byproviding the two plates in this manner separated by a substantial thickness of compressiblef': rubber body, we have constructed a seat, possessing not onlylhigh quali-ties of ridi-ng comfort and durabilitygbut one which is extremelywsirnple of constrution and inexpensive tomanufacture.

In Figure 5 we have illustrated a modi-liedA form of the invention, which diiers from the embodiment illustrated in the other figures in thatY the present vform is provided with a singleY plate 20 in the base of the seat. This form ofthe invention is particularly usefull when the seat is designed forlighterA loads, such as for juvenile use.

-When used in this manner, the `full load is supported by the plate 20'V and, the rubber materialof the body above the platek is compressible against the plate.v The platek 2i)` serves tomamtain fthe shape off the seatv and to support the load.

In both forms of the inventiomwe have illustrated- 'a further improvement which consists in providing anl outer coating 30 to the seat body.

This coating is preferably formedk of latex whichis applied to the inner surfaces of the mold prior to the application offthe sponge rubber body. When the body material isapplied and thev mold heated, ofcourse, the latex coating will, become vulcanized or fused tothe body. I

ber material, since we havefound that the body may be fabricated-that is, built up in sections bound together in any suitable fashion. For instance, the body may be laminated, the plates 5 and I2 being disposed in the relative positions asdescribed above. Y

Various chan-ges may be made in the details of construction of the invention Without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

said; Qtherplate topartially embrace the rubber.

material therebetween, saidA plate also Vbeing perforated' to provide `an anchorage for the material ofthe body.

3. A` seat or saddle comprising a molded-body ofprubber. a'reinforcing plate embedded withinV the body material near the load supporting surface of the seat. or saddle, a base plate embedded inthe lower portion, ofv the body, said plates be-r ing relatively movable when vthe seat is under 10241,. ISO C Orrlllless` the rubber material therebetween.

CALVIN D. MILLER. GILBERT P. ICKES. 

